Patent US6572909B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6572909B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container having single-cycle hinge and use thereof
Assignee: Solo Cup Operating Corp
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Filing: 2000-05-03
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2020-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A plastic container has a base and a lid hinged together by a hinge. The hinge has a series of relatively thick sections joined together by a series of relatively thin sections. The thin sections are sufficiently thin to be severed upon an initial folding of the hinge. The thick sections are sufficiently thick to remain at least partially intact during the initial folding. The container may be filled with product and closed with the hinge becoming partially severed and weakened and may be later opened with the hinge becoming completely severed to separate the base and the lid.
Inventors
- 👤 Terry Steven Bagwell
- 👤 W. John Squire
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:36
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D43/00; B65D43/14; B65D43/16; B65D43/162; B65D2401/00; B65D2401/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A plastic container having a base and a lid hinged together by a hinge that has a series of relatively thick sections joined together by a series of relatively thin sections, said thin sections being sufficiently thin to be severed upon an initial folding of said hinge and said thick sections being sufficiently thick to remain at least partially intact during the initial folding whereby the container may be filled with product and closed with the hinge becoming partially severed and weakened and may be later opened with the hinge becoming completely severed to separate the base and the lid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A plastic container having a base and a lid hinged together by a hinge that has a series of relatively thick sections joined together by a series of relatively thin sections, said thin sections being sufficiently thin to be severed upon an initial folding of said hinge and said thick sections being sufficiently thick to remain at least partially intact during the initial folding whereby the container may be filled with product and closed with the hinge becoming partially severed and weakened and may be later opened with the hinge becoming completely severed to separate the base and the lid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The plastic container of claim 1 wherein said hinge extends along an axis between said base and said lid and said thin sections and said thick sections are aligned along said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The plastic container of claim 1 comprised of a thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene or polystyrene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The plastic container of claim 1 wherein the lengths of said thin sections are approximately twice the lengths of said thick sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The plastic container of claim 1 wherein said thick sections have a thickness approximately 50 percent to 75 percent greater than the thickness of said thin sections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The plastic container of claim 1 wherein said thin sections have a substantially V-shaped cross-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The plastic container of claim 1 wherein said thick sections have a substantially V-shaped cross-section.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of packaging and unpackaging products which comprises the steps of placing a product in the base of an open plastic container having a lid and a base joined by a hinge that has a series of relatively thick sections joined together by a series of relatively thin sections, said thin sections being sufficiently thin to be severed upon an initial folding of said hinge and said thick sections being sufficiently thick to remain at least partially intact during the initial folding, closing the lid onto the base and partially fracturing the hinge, and subsequently re-opening the container and completely fracturing the hinge thereby providing access to the product in the base with the lid unattached.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of packaging and unpackaging products which comprises the steps of placing a product in the base of an open plastic container having a lid and a base joined by a hinge that has a series of relatively thick sections joined together by a series of relatively thin sections, said thin sections being sufficiently thin to be severed upon an initial folding of said hinge and said thick sections being sufficiently thick to remain at least partially intact during the initial folding, closing the lid onto the base and partially fracturing the hinge, and subsequently re-opening the container and completely fracturing the hinge thereby providing access to the product in the base with the lid unattached.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the product is heated and further comprising an additional step of nesting the base containing the heated product upon the lid to assist in keeping the product warm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the base and the product are heated and further comprising an additional step of nesting the heated base and the heated product upon the lid to assist in keeping the product warm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
112 words
A hinge formed in a sheet of thermoplastic material, said sheet having a base portion and a lid portion and said hinge having a series of relatively thick sections and a series of relatively thin sections, said thin sections being sufficiently thin to be severed upon an initial folding of said hinge and said thick sections being sufficiently thick to remain at least partially intact during the initial folding whereby the base portion may be folded upon the lid portion to partially sever and weaken the hinge and may be later unfolded to fracture the hinge and thereby separate the base portion of the sheet from the lid portion of the sheet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
A hinge formed in a sheet of thermoplastic material, said sheet having a base portion and a lid portion and said hinge having a series of relatively thick sections and a series of relatively thin sections, said thin sections being sufficiently thin to be severed upon an initial folding of said hinge and said thick sections being sufficiently thick to remain at least partially intact during the initial folding whereby the base portion may be folded upon the lid portion to partially sever and weaken the hinge and may be later unfolded to fracture the hinge and thereby separate the base portion of the sheet from the lid portion of the sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The hinge of claim 11 wherein an axis extends between said base portion and said lid portion and said thin sections and said thick sections are aligned along said axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hinge of claim 11 comprised of a thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene or polystyrene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hinge of claim 11 wherein the lengths of said thin sections are approximately twice the lengths of said thick sections.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The hinge of claim 11 wherein said thick sections have a thickness approximately 50 percent to 75 percent greater than the thickness of said thin sections.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The hinge of claim 11 wherein said thin sections have a substantially V-shaped cross-section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The hinge of claim 11 wherein said thick sections have a substantially V-shaped cross-section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hinge of claim 11 wherein said hinge is formed by compressing said sheet between a blade and a striker plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The hinge of claim 18 wherein said blade includes a series of upper teeth and a series of lower teeth used to form said thin sections and said thick sections of said hinge.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |